EP0318501B1 - Verfahren zur unterscheidung zwischen verschmutzten und nicht-verschmutzten behältern - Google Patents

Verfahren zur unterscheidung zwischen verschmutzten und nicht-verschmutzten behältern Download PDF

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Publication number
EP0318501B1
EP0318501B1 EP87905387A EP87905387A EP0318501B1 EP 0318501 B1 EP0318501 B1 EP 0318501B1 EP 87905387 A EP87905387 A EP 87905387A EP 87905387 A EP87905387 A EP 87905387A EP 0318501 B1 EP0318501 B1 EP 0318501B1
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EP
European Patent Office
Prior art keywords
residue
sample
product
container
physical response
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EP87905387A
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English (en)
French (fr)
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EP0318501A1 (de
Inventor
George Plester
Warren E. Leddon
David E. Dalsis
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Coca Cola Co
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Coca Cola Co
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Publication date
Priority claimed from US06/892,983 external-priority patent/US4858768A/en
Application filed by Coca Cola Co filed Critical Coca Cola Co
Priority to AT87905387T priority Critical patent/ATE71314T1/de
Publication of EP0318501A1 publication Critical patent/EP0318501A1/de
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    • G—PHYSICS
    • G01—MEASURING; TESTING
    • G01N—INVESTIGATING OR ANALYSING MATERIALS BY DETERMINING THEIR CHEMICAL OR PHYSICAL PROPERTIES
    • G01N21/00—Investigating or analysing materials by the use of optical means, i.e. using sub-millimetre waves, infrared, visible or ultraviolet light
    • G01N21/84—Systems specially adapted for particular applications
    • G01N21/88—Investigating the presence of flaws or contamination
    • G01N21/90—Investigating the presence of flaws or contamination in a container or its contents
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B07—SEPARATING SOLIDS FROM SOLIDS; SORTING
    • B07C—POSTAL SORTING; SORTING INDIVIDUAL ARTICLES, OR BULK MATERIAL FIT TO BE SORTED PIECE-MEAL, e.g. BY PICKING
    • B07C5/00—Sorting according to a characteristic or feature of the articles or material being sorted, e.g. by control effected by devices which detect or measure such characteristic or feature; Sorting by manually actuated devices, e.g. switches
    • B07C5/34—Sorting according to other particular properties
    • B07C5/3404—Sorting according to other particular properties according to properties of containers or receptacles, e.g. rigidity, leaks, fill-level
    • B07C5/3408—Sorting according to other particular properties according to properties of containers or receptacles, e.g. rigidity, leaks, fill-level for bottles, jars or other glassware
    • G—PHYSICS
    • G01—MEASURING; TESTING
    • G01N—INVESTIGATING OR ANALYSING MATERIALS BY DETERMINING THEIR CHEMICAL OR PHYSICAL PROPERTIES
    • G01N21/00—Investigating or analysing materials by the use of optical means, i.e. using sub-millimetre waves, infrared, visible or ultraviolet light
    • G01N21/84—Systems specially adapted for particular applications
    • G01N21/88—Investigating the presence of flaws or contamination
    • G01N21/90—Investigating the presence of flaws or contamination in a container or its contents
    • G01N21/9018—Dirt detection in containers
    • G—PHYSICS
    • G01—MEASURING; TESTING
    • G01N—INVESTIGATING OR ANALYSING MATERIALS BY DETERMINING THEIR CHEMICAL OR PHYSICAL PROPERTIES
    • G01N21/00—Investigating or analysing materials by the use of optical means, i.e. using sub-millimetre waves, infrared, visible or ultraviolet light
    • G01N21/84—Systems specially adapted for particular applications
    • G01N21/88—Investigating the presence of flaws or contamination
    • G01N21/90—Investigating the presence of flaws or contamination in a container or its contents
    • G01N21/9081—Inspection especially designed for plastic containers, e.g. preforms
    • G—PHYSICS
    • G01—MEASURING; TESTING
    • G01N—INVESTIGATING OR ANALYSING MATERIALS BY DETERMINING THEIR CHEMICAL OR PHYSICAL PROPERTIES
    • G01N33/00—Investigating or analysing materials by specific methods not covered by groups G01N1/00 - G01N31/00
    • G01N33/0078—Testing material properties on manufactured objects
    • G01N33/0081—Containers; Packages; Bottles
    • G—PHYSICS
    • G01—MEASURING; TESTING
    • G01N—INVESTIGATING OR ANALYSING MATERIALS BY DETERMINING THEIR CHEMICAL OR PHYSICAL PROPERTIES
    • G01N35/00—Automatic analysis not limited to methods or materials provided for in any single one of groups G01N1/00 - G01N33/00; Handling materials therefor
    • G01N35/00584—Control arrangements for automatic analysers
    • G01N35/00594—Quality control, including calibration or testing of components of the analyser
    • G01N35/00603—Reinspection of samples
    • G—PHYSICS
    • G01—MEASURING; TESTING
    • G01N—INVESTIGATING OR ANALYSING MATERIALS BY DETERMINING THEIR CHEMICAL OR PHYSICAL PROPERTIES
    • G01N21/00—Investigating or analysing materials by the use of optical means, i.e. using sub-millimetre waves, infrared, visible or ultraviolet light
    • G01N21/17—Systems in which incident light is modified in accordance with the properties of the material investigated
    • G01N21/25—Colour; Spectral properties, i.e. comparison of effect of material on the light at two or more different wavelengths or wavelength bands
    • G01N21/31—Investigating relative effect of material at wavelengths characteristic of specific elements or molecules, e.g. atomic absorption spectrometry

Definitions

  • This invention relates generally to container inspection systems, such as glass and plastic containers for the presence of contaminants and hazardous materials. More specifically, this invention relates to a method of identifying uncontaminated containers by detecting the residue of the product originally packaged in the container.
  • Glass containers have the disadvantages of being fragile and, in the larger volumes, of being relatively heavy. Accordingly, it is highly desirable to use plastic containers because they are less fragile and lighter than glass containers of the same volume.
  • plastic materials tend to absorb a variety of organic compounds which may later be desorbed into the product thereby adversely affecting the quality of the product packed in the container. It has been found that the existing methods of inspection are inadequate to detect containers which may have absorbed contaminants.
  • Two kinds of foreign matter detecting devices one for inspecting the body (barrel) of a bottle and the other for inspecting the bottom, are known in the art.
  • the former device light is externally applied to the bottle while the bottle is being rotated, and light passed through the bottle is detected by a photoelectric element.
  • the photoelectric element is employed to compare the quantity of transmission light obtained when a certain region of the bottle has a foreign matter to the quantity of transmission light obtained when the certain region has no foreign matter.
  • the entire body of the bottle is inspected for a foreign matter.
  • Illustrative of the above described detection system are the devices described in US-A-4,376,951 which comprises a photoelectric conversion device having a number of light receiving elements; and a video signal processing device for successively subjecting to comparison and discrimination the detection signals of variable two adjacent points which are detected by the photoelectric conversion device, to determine whether or not the bottle has a foreign matter.
  • Detecting devices which measure the degree of transmission through a container have the disadvantage that they cannot detect the presence of many contaminants that may have been absorbed into the wall of the container because some contaminants do not affect the transmission of light through the container.
  • US-A-4,551,627 discloses apparatus for inspecting residual liquid such as water, oil, and liquid soap in refillable beverage containers.
  • the apparatus is intended to detect liquids such as oil, and liquid soap which may contaminate the containers.
  • small quantities of liquid contaminant are detected and the containers containing such residues are removed from the refillable container process line.
  • the method for detecting the contaminant comprises the steps of: measuring optical transmittances of a combination of the contaminant to be detected and a container wall in which the contaminant is accommodated; selecting two optical pass-bands, one of which is relatively high transmittance level with respect to the contaminant to be detected while the other of which is relatively low transmittance level with respect to the contaminant to be detected; measuring light quantities at the two optical pass-bands when light passes through the bottom and neck of the container; converting the light quantities into respective two electric signals; and comparing one electric signal with respect to one pass-band with the other electric signal with respect to the other pass-band.
  • While that apparatus may be suitable to detect one or two predetermined liquid contaminants which may remain in the container, its utility is limited in situations where the possible contaminants are numerous, or the contaminant has been absorbed by the wall of the container. Additionally, the apparatus depends on the transmittance of the contaminant to be detected, and that physical property varies widely depending on the contaminants. This device is typically used to inspect washed glass packages for residual diluted caustic solutions, and not unwashed packages as per the present invention.
  • US-A-4,221,961 discloses an electro-optic bottle inspector.
  • the device is constructed so that it can detect particles or liquid in a bottle. It has a light source to be disposed under the bottle bottom, a rotative scanner head to be disposed over the bottle neck to receive light passing through the bottle bottom from the light source, and a detector for receiving light reflected by the surface of the scanner head to detect only particulate matters on the bottle bottom.
  • the scanner has reflecting segments and non reflecting portions. The reflecting segments reflect the light passing through the bottle bottom so as to focus a bottle bottom image onto the detector. If there are particulate matters on the bottle bottom, they block the light from the light source to cause a dip in detector output.
  • the non-reflecting portions are provided with an infrared detector for detecting the infrared radiation passing through the bottle bottom.
  • the light to be received by the infrared detector is filtered so that only light having wavelengths in or near one of the absorption bands of liquid to be detected can pass through to reach the infrared detector. If there is liquid in the bottle bottom, the light is partially absorbed to cause a dip in A.C. coupled amplitude of the infrared detector providing an indication of the presence of the liquid.
  • This device is typically used to inspect washed glass returnable bottles for foreign materials that may adhere to the inside of the bottle and could not be removed by the washing device.
  • US-A-4,087,184 discloses a method and apparatus for inspecting liquids in transparent containers.
  • the method comprises the steps of illuminating the liquid with a constant intensity light source, imaging the entire illuminated liquid volume, including the meniscus, into a plurality of image planes with fiber optic bundles, and monitoring the fiber optic bundles with an array of constant sensitivity photo transducers.
  • Each photo transducer continually translates the illumination value of the vial image of an assigned and separate unit volume of the liquid-filled container into a voltage signal and each signal is monitored for a signal change indicative of particulate movement.
  • the interfering output signal due to the meniscus decay is corrected, and the accept/reject decision is based upon a composite signal representative of all the differentiated signals received from the array of photo transducers.
  • US-A-4,083,691 discloses a method for detecting contaminants in water. The method rapidly detects organic pollutants in water utilizing chemical effervescence to accelerate release of contaminants into the atmosphere above the water sample where they can be detected by conventional air pollution detector tubes. An apparatus for detecting contaminants in the atmosphere above the water solution by detector tube is also disclosed.
  • US-A-3,966,332 discloses a method and apparatus for inspecting liquids in transparent containers.
  • the apparatus automatically inspects liquid filled containers for particulate contaminants by relative size.
  • the method comprises the steps of illuminating the liquid with a constant intensity light source, dissecting the image of the entire illuminated liquid volume, including the meniscus, with fiber optic bundles and monitoring the fiber optic bundles with an array of constant sensitivity photo sensors.
  • Each photo sensor continually translates the illumination value of an assigned and separate cross sectional unit area of the vial image into a voltage signal and monitors each signal for a signal change indicative of particulate movement.
  • the interfering output signal due to the meniscus decay is corrected, and the accept/reject decision is based upon a composite signal representative of all the differentiated signals received from the array of photo sensors.
  • US-A-4,459,023 discloses an electro-optic inspection system for transparent or semitransparent containers.
  • the electro-optic inspection system disclosed uses a polarized, scanned optical beam and an array of polaroid optical detectors and a logic signal processing system thereby to securely detect the defects on the transparent or semitransparent containers.
  • EP-A-0067438 discloses an automatic optical inspection apparatus which compares bottles under inspection with a standard object to determine whether object characteristics of interest meet acceptable standards. Characteristics being inspected include shape and similar details, color, surface finish, gloss etc., completeness of the bottle and proper orientation of the bottle. The apparatus serves for quality control by on-line inspection.
  • the invention as claimed solves the problem of how to enable the discrimination between containers that may have been contaminated among a population of containers which were once filled with a product to be consumed.
  • the advantages accomplished by the invention are mainly that they enable to distinguish between plastic containers which may have different contaminants absorbed in the walls of the container from containers which contain residue of the original product.
  • the method of the present invention discriminates between a contaminated and uncontaminated bottle by various physical parameters of the residue of the bottle being compared to the physical parameters of the product originally packed in the container. If the physical parameters of the residue correlate to the parameters of the product originally packed in the container, the bottle containing said residue is sent to the standard washer of the bottling facility. If the physical parameters of the residue do not correlate to the parameters of the product originally packed in the container, the bottle containing said residue is subjected to further inspection, or subjected to a special contaminant extraction process or discarded.
  • FIG. 1 Shown in Fig. 1 is a simplified schematic of a system 11 for discriminating between contaminated bottles and uncontaminated bottles.
  • Bottles returned from the trade are transported to a residue sampler 13 where samples of residue from the bottle are obtained.
  • Samples of the residue are taken to a residue analyzer 15 which measure a physical response of the residue sample.
  • a sample signal corresponding to the physical response from the sample is sent to a parameter comparator 17 which compares the sample signal to corresponding values for the product originally packed in the container which are stored in a memory 19.
  • the parameter comparator 17 sends a reject signal to a reject mechanism 21 if the sample signal does not correlate to the stored product parameters.
  • the reject mechanism 21 diverts the bottles in response to the reject signal.
  • FIG. 2 there is presented a more detailed schematic of the system 11 incorporating the method of discriminating between contaminated and uncontaminated containers according to the present invention.
  • Bottles 20 returned from the trade are loaded on an initial conveyor system 23 in a bottling plant to be washed and refilled.
  • the bottles are transported to a first twist over station 25 where the bottles are turned upside down to remove any large remnants.
  • the large remnants are dropped onto a refuse receptacle 27 and discarded.
  • the bottles are then conveyed to a second twist over station 29 where they are reoriented with the open neck portion disposed upwardly and are placed on a discrete receptacle conveying mechanism 31.
  • the conveying mechanism 31 may be a standard pocket chain type conveyer system.
  • the bottles are then transported to a position below a water injector 33 where a specified volume of distilled water is injected into the bottles.
  • the bottles proceed to a third bottle twist over station 35.
  • a cuvette transport system 37 Disposed below the third twist over station 35 is a cuvette transport system 37 comprising a plurality of glass cuvettes 39 disposed on a conveyer system discrete and identified positions for each cuvette.
  • the bottles are then transported to a fourth twist over station 41 and placed on a conveyer system 43. Each position of a bottle on the conveyer system 43 corresponds to a position of a cuvette 39 on the cuvette transport system 37.
  • the cuvettes 39 containing samples of the dilute residue are transported to a residue analyzer 45.
  • the residue analyzer 45 measures one or more physical characteristics of the dilute residue and provides an input to the analyzer logic system 47.
  • the analyzer logic system 47 compares the readings of the physical characteristics with the characteristics of the product that was originally packed in the container. If the physical characteristics of the dilute residue do not correlate to the physical characteristics of the original product within the limits established for the specific characteristics, then the bottle from which the residue was obtained is considered contaminated and a reject signal is generated by the analyzer logic system 47.
  • the reject signal is received by the logic system of a reject mechanism 49 which diverts the contaminated bottle from the conveyer system 43.
  • the contaminated bottle may be discarded or conveyed to a a second inspection station or a contaminant extraction station (not shown).
  • the cuvettes 39 are processed through the residues analyzer 45 they are transported to a cuvette washer 51 where they are thoroughly washed to remove all residues from the cuvettes. The cuvettes 39 are then recycled through the cuvette transport system 37.
  • Fig. 3 Shown in Fig. 3 is a simplified schematic of system 12 which has the same purpose and the same components as system 11 except that residue sampler 13 is not required. Residues are measured in the residue analyzer 15 without being removed from the original container. The measurements of physical response are those that can be made in the original container and are nondestructive to the container. The other parts of system 12 function as those in system 11.
  • Fig. 4 illustrates how the residue analysis can be conducted in the container being analyzed.
  • Bottles are transported in a conveyor system and are sequentially disposed under a water injector 33 (like that described in Fig. 2) if the analyzer requires a liquid for analysis. Warm water from the water injector 33 is injected in each bottle sufficient to dissolve the required amount of residue and provide sufficient volume for the analyzer.
  • the bottles with the warm water are then accumulated or transported to a bottle shaker/mixer 54 to thoroughly dissolve the residue to the required concentration.
  • the bottle with the residue is then transported to a residue analyzer 15 like that described in Fig. 3.
  • the rest of the system operates like the system in Fig. 3.
  • Numerous techniques, or a combination thereof, can be utilized to identify the residue of a container as the product originally packed in the container. Typically these techniques will detect a characteristic of the product or an ingredient of the product which can be used to discriminate the product from a contaminant. Below are descriptions of various techniques which can be incorporated in the residue analyzers 15 utilized in the method of the present invention.
  • Substances can be characterized by measuring the quantity and quality of electromagnetic radiation emitted, reflected, transmitted, or diffracted by the sample.
  • the various methods utilized for analysis of chemical compositions using electromagnetic radiation are summarized below.
  • Emission spectroscopy is used to determine the structure of compounds from the wavelength configuration of their emission spectra.
  • the sample is generally thermally excited in an arc until it emits its characteristic radiation.
  • a detector is used to measure the relative amounts of radiation at the characteristic wavelengths.
  • a multichannel fluorimeter can be used to collect luminescence intensity, excitation, and emitted wavelength data from unknown container residues. This dimensional signature can be compared to, using computerized pattern recognition, to a reference signature for uncontaminated residues.
  • the frequency and amounts of infrared radiation that a sample absorbs is characterized by the molecular structure of the various species in the sample.
  • the infrared spectrum is highly characteristic and in effect provides a fingerprint of the compounds.
  • This technology is similar to that of infrared spectrophotometry, described above, except that monochromatic light in the near infrared region (1,100nanometers to 2,500nanometers) is directed to the unknown sample.
  • the near infrared spectrum produces many overlapping overtones of the infrared spectrum. These overtones can be analyzed with the assistance of computerized multi-linear regression analysis to yield a more defined sample identification.
  • UV/visible spectrophotometer the absorbing components of the sample can be characterized by their absorption versus wavelength patterns (spectral signature).
  • a reference spectral signature can be generated for product residues.
  • Computerized pattern recognition techniques can be used to classify the residue as contaminant or product. These determinations can be accomplished with available colorimeters which determine the degree of absorption of rays of light of predetermined and characteristic wavelengths to establish the specific colors of a sample or sample solution.
  • UV/visible refers to light in the range of 300 to 700 nanometers. Visible light is generated from a white light source and UV light is generated from an UV light source.
  • the spectral signature can be determined by choosing identification wavelength ranges for product utilizing light filters. In selecting identification wavelength ranges at least one discrete, preselected identification wavelength range is necessary and three to eight discrete, preselected identification wavelength ranges may be preferred depending upon the spectral signature of the actual product. This specific color information can then be utilized to classify the sample and reject a contaminated container in a product filling line application. The system utilizing this technology is shown in Fig. 4. Colorimetric absorption spectroscopy is one of the preferred embodiments of the invention.
  • Raman spectroscopy is based upon the shift in wavelength of monochromatic light scattered by a sample.
  • the shift in wavelength is indicative of the molecular structure of the sample.
  • the Raman spectrum duplicate that of the infrared spectrum, but in many cases additional information can be obtained. This technology could be used in tandem with Infrared Spectrophotometry to provide a more effective residue discrimination.
  • the molecular structure of the components of a sample can also be characterized by the effect that the structure has on light transmitted through the sample.
  • the physical effects that can be measured are: refractive index of the sample solution; light scattering of suspensions; optical rotation of polarized light and refractive index of the sample; turbidity of the sample; density of the sample. All of the physical effects described above can be detected by photodetectors which are commercially available. The specific method to be employed will depend on the product originally packed in the container, or the component of the product which will be keyed. Preferably more than one method can be used in order to raise the reliability of the residue detector.
  • US-A-4,548,500 discloses a process and apparatus for identifying or characterizing small particles based upon the measurement of certain optical observables produced as each particle passes through a beam of light, or other electromagnetic radiation.
  • a highly coherent beam of, preferably, monochromatic vertically polarized light passes through a spherical array of detectors, or receptors with fiber optics means to transmit incident light to a set of detector is employed.
  • the sample containing the small particles intersects the beam at the center of the spherical array.
  • Selected observables calculated from the detected scattered radiation are then used to recall specific maps, from a computer
  • an aliquot of residue is diluted with filtered deionized water, placed in a cuvette, and illuminated diametrically by means of a vertically polarized fine laser beam.
  • An array of detectors, or a rotating single detector measures the scattered light intensity as a function of scattering angle, generally the plane of the laser.
  • polarizing filters are utilized to read the scattered light in a plane perpendicular to the plane of polarization of the laser. This scattering variation is then recorded digitally, and compared with a stored library of such scattering patterns for the original product contained in the bottle. If the diluted residue readings are not substantially similar to the stored readings for the original product the residue the residue is considered a contaminant.
  • the contaminated container may then be treated with special solvents to extract possible contaminants, or may be discarded.
  • the flame ionization detector consists of a small hydrogen flame burning in an excess of air which is surrounded by an electrostatic field. Organic compounds injected into the flame are burned. During the combustion, ionic fragments are collected, producing an electric current proportional to the number of carbon atoms in the sample. This phenomenon allows for sample identification.
  • X-Ray fluorescence involves the excitation of a sample by irradiation of the material with intense short wavelength x-rays.
  • the x-rays subsequently emitted from an excited element have a wavelength characteristic of that element and an intensity proportional to the number of excited atoms.
  • LIBS Laser-Induced Breakdown Spectroscopy.
  • LIBS uses a commercial laser to deliver pulses of light lasting less than a microsecond.
  • the intense light which is focused on a tiny area of the sample reduces the material to its elemental constituents.
  • the resulting plasma is analyzed by atomic emission spectroscopy.
  • a simple apparatus may be used to measure the electrical conductivity of a sample of the residue.
  • Gas chromatography technology utilizing an appropriate detector can be used to analyze residue of product residue and/or microorganisms including mold and yeast indicating the presence of product.
  • molecules are bombarded with a beam of energized electrons.
  • the molecules are ionized and broken up into many fragments, some of which are positive ions.
  • Each kind of ion has a particular ratio of mass to charge.
  • the ions are separated according to their mass using one of a number of available techniques, such as by a uniform magnetic field.
  • the charge of each ion species is measured by measuring the current induced on an electrode.
  • each molecular structure generates a unique mass spectrum. Detection of uncontaminated residues can be accomplished by tuning a mass spectrum leak detector to a unique residue constituent. Peak response indicates an uncontaminated residue.
  • the nuclei of atoms are considered to be spinning charged particles.
  • the spinning of a charged particle generates a magnetic moment aligned with the axis of the spin. If a substance is irradiated with radiation of constant frequency, in a magnetic field of varying strength, then at some value of the field strength absorption occurs and a signal is observed.
  • a typical absorption spectrum for will show many absorption peaks indicating the molecular structure of the compound.
  • Micro- processor controlled NMR spectrometers collect the spectrum data for computer analysis.
  • the determination of chemical composition by the measurement of reaction products involves two steps. First, there is the promotion of the desired chemical reaction, and second there is the measurement of the reaction product as a means of determining the presence and quantity of a particular constituent in the product. The latter step may utilize some of the techniques outlined above.
  • the instruments used for measuring reaction products are: Impregnated tape devices; Photometric instruments (colorimeter and nephelometers); Electrolytic conductance meters; and Electrochemical devices.
  • the sugar indications methods described above can be easily incorporated into a residue analyzer 15.
  • the necessary oxidative reaction may be carried out in the bottle or container, or alternatively in the cuvettes 39 illustrated in Fig. 2.
  • a signal responsive to the color of the sugar indicator may be generated by a colorimeter such as that described in US-A-4,519,710.
  • a colorimeter such as that described in US-A-4,519,710.
  • a colorimeter comprises a source of optical radiation, a multichambered flow cell through which a solution to be monitored can flow, and photodetector devices responsive to radiation transmitted through the solution in the chambers of the flow cell.
  • the radiation source may be monochromatic, or alternatively may emit radiation over a broad optical spectrum and be used in combination with discrete bandpass filters on the individual flow-cell chambers.
  • the photodetector devices generate electrical outputs proportional to the intensity of the radiation transmitted through the solution.
  • Electronic circuitry responsive to the outputs of the photodetector devices maintains the intensity of the radiation emitted by the radiation source at a substantially constant value.
  • the reject mechanism 21 referred to in Fig. 1 may be a commercially available defective bottle rejection system such as described in U. S. Patent No. 4,295,558 (Oct. 20, 1981 Heckmann). That device includes two conveyor wheels mounted for rotational movement for conveying containers along either one of a main path of movement for containers to be used later, or a shunt path of movement for containers to be removed and inspected or discarded.
  • the specification of U.S. Pat. Nos. 3,746,165 and 3,727,068 describe bottle inspection machines in which dirty bottles are individually rejected.
  • the bottles moving in single file, pass an optical inspection unit and when a dirty bottle is detected a double-pronged claw is caused to move at high speed into the path of the bottles so that the flow is stopped and the dirty bottle is captured between the prongs of the claw.
  • a pneumatic ram then gently ejects the dirty bottle in a direction substantially at right angles to the normal flow of bottles. The ram and the claw both retract after the dirty bottle has been rejected thus allowing the bottles upstream to move once more.
  • the reliability of the method of discriminating incorporated in the system 11 will depend upon the technique for analyzing the samples as well as the physical properties of the product originally packed in the container. The reliability may be increased by selecting more than one technique (system redundancy) to characterize or "fingerprint" the original product.
  • system redundancy For example, soft drinks contain emulsions which are susceptible to being characterized by the light scattering methods described above. In addition most soft drinks are sweetened with sucrose or fructose which can be easily detected using commercial indicators.
  • Fig. 5 there is illustrated an alternate embodiment for a system for discriminating between contaminated and uncontaminated bottles 100 having a redundancy feature.
  • Samples of the residue of incoming bottles (before washing) are disposed on cuvettes by a residues sampler 101.
  • the cuvette is then transferred to a first detector 103 which utilizes one of the detection technologies previously enumerated.
  • the first detector 103 may utilize a transmission measuring device utilizing the differential light scattering technique described above.
  • device data (representative of the intensity of light scattered through different angles measured from the incident beam) is generated by the first detector 103.
  • the data is then compared in the first parameter comparator 105 with reference data (first reference signal in Fig. 5) stored in a first memory device 107.
  • the comparison of the data is then analyzed by the first correlator signal analyzer 109 and compared with a correlation factor range stored in a memory device 111. If the response of the residue sample falls within the correlation factor range that has been empirically established for the particular device and the particular product, then the bottle from which the sample was taken is accepted as uncontaminated. If the response of the sample falls outside the range then the bottle is assumed to be contaminated and a reject signal is given.
  • the cuvette is then transported to a second detector 113.
  • the second detector 113 may be for example a sugar analyzer. In such an analyzer a reagent is added to the sample and then examined by a colorimeter. A signal indicative of the intensity of a reference beam transmitted through the sample is then communicated to a second parameter comparator 115.
  • the second parameter comparator compares the detector signal with a second reference signal stored in memory device 117.
  • the two signals are then analyzed by the second correlation signal analyzer 119 using criteria defined in the second correlation factor range stored in memory 121.
  • the cuvettes may be transferred to a cuvette washer 123.

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  • Chemical & Material Sciences (AREA)
  • Health & Medical Sciences (AREA)
  • Life Sciences & Earth Sciences (AREA)
  • General Health & Medical Sciences (AREA)
  • Analytical Chemistry (AREA)
  • Biochemistry (AREA)
  • Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
  • General Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
  • Immunology (AREA)
  • Pathology (AREA)
  • Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • Quality & Reliability (AREA)
  • Food Science & Technology (AREA)
  • Medicinal Chemistry (AREA)
  • Investigating Or Analysing Materials By Optical Means (AREA)
  • Processing Of Solid Wastes (AREA)
  • Control And Other Processes For Unpacking Of Materials (AREA)
  • Refuse Collection And Transfer (AREA)
  • Investigating Materials By The Use Of Optical Means Adapted For Particular Applications (AREA)
  • Auxiliary Devices For And Details Of Packaging Control (AREA)
  • Supplying Of Containers To The Packaging Station (AREA)
  • Other Investigation Or Analysis Of Materials By Electrical Means (AREA)
  • External Artificial Organs (AREA)
  • Discharge Of Articles From Conveyors (AREA)
  • Processing And Handling Of Plastics And Other Materials For Molding In General (AREA)
  • Investigating Or Analyzing Materials By The Use Of Magnetic Means (AREA)
  • Transition And Organic Metals Composition Catalysts For Addition Polymerization (AREA)
  • Packaging For Recording Disks (AREA)
  • Detergent Compositions (AREA)

Claims (20)

1. Verfahren zur Unterscheidung zwischen verschmutzten und nichtverschmutzten Behältern aus einer Gesamtheit von Behältern (20), die mit einem zum Verzehr bestimmten Produkt gefüllt gewesen sind, umfassend die folgenden Schritte:
   Richten von elektromagnetischer Energie auf den Behälter (20),
   Messen von Art und Menge der von dem Behälter (20) übertragenen elektromagnetischen Energie,
   Übertragen von Signalen, die Art und Menge der gemessenen elektromagnetischen Energie anzeigen,
   Vergleichen des übertragenen Signals mit vorbestimmten Werten unter Verwendung eines Parameter-Komparators (17) und
   Zurückweisen des Behälters (20) unter Verwendung einer Zurückweisungsvorrichtung (21), wenn das übertragene Signal nicht mit den vorbestimmten Werten übereinstimmt,
   dadurch gekennzeichnet, daß, in der Absicht, das Analysenproblem auf den Nachweis von bekannten und verhältnismäßig wenigen Produktrückständen zu beschränken, deren Vorhandensein als Anzeichen dafür benutzt wird, daß der Behälter (20) nicht verunreinigt worden ist,
   mindestens eine physikalische Reaktion von einem Probenrückstand in jedem Behälter hervorgerufen wird, indem die elektromagnetische Energie auf den Probenrückstand gerichtet wird, wobei die von dem Behälter übertragene elektromagnetische Energie mit dem Probenrückstand in Wechselwirkung gestanden hat, unter Verwendung eines Rückstandsanalysators (15), und
   daß die vorbestimmten Werte, mit denen das übertragene Signal verglichen wird, Produktparameter (19) sind, die die physikalische Reaktion einer Probe des ursprünglich in den Behälter abgepackten Produkts darstellen.
2. Verfahren nach Anspruch 1, worin der Meßschritt das Messen der relativen Beträge und Wellenlängen von von dem Probenrückstand emittierter Strahlung umfaßt.
3. Verfahren nach Anspruch 2, worin die genannte elektromagnetische Energie thermische Anregung ist.
4. Verfahren nach Anspruch 1, worin die genannte elektromagnetische Energie ultraviolettes oder sichtbares Licht, monochromatisches Licht im nahen Infrarot oder Infrarotstrahlung ist und der Meßschritt das Messen der relativen Beträge und Wellenlängen der von den Probenrückständen absorbierten Strahlung umfaßt.
5. Verfahren nach Anspruch 1, worin die genannte elektromagnetische Energie kohärente Strahlung ist, und der Meßschritt das Messen der relativen Beträge und Streuwinkel von durch den Probenrückstand gestreuter Strahlung umfaßt.
6. Verfahren nach einem der Ansprüche 1 bis 5, worin der Schritt des Hervorrufens der physikalischen Reaktion von dem Probenrückstand umfaßt:
   Zusammenbringen des Probenrückstands mit einem einen Bestandteil des genannten Produkts anzeigenden Reagens,
   Anzeigen des Auftretens oder Nichtauftretens einer Reaktion zwischen dem Reagens und dem genannten Bestandteil des genannten Produkts und
   Übertragen von das Auftreten oder Nichtauftreten einer solchen Reaktion anzeigenden Signalen.
7. Verfahren nach Anspruch 6, worin der genannte Bestandteil Zucker und das genannte Reagens ein Zucker-Indikator ist.
8. Verfahren nach Anspruch 1, worin der Schritt des Hervorrufens einer physikalischen Reaktion umfaßt:
   Einführen des Probenrückstands in ein Magnetfeld wechselnder Stärke und
   Bestrahlen des Probenrückstands mit Strahlung im Hochfrequenzbereich,
   worin die übertragenen Signale die Werte der Feldstärke angeben, bei der die genannte Energie absorbiert wird.
9. Verfahren nach Anspruch 1, worin der Schritt des Hervorrufens einer physikalischen Reaktion umfaßt:
   Ionisieren des Probenrückstands und
   Trennen der Ionen nach ihrer Masse und
   worin die ausgesandten Signale die Zahl der Ionen bestimmter Masse in dem Probenrückstand angeben.
10. Verfahren nach einem der Ansprüche 1 bis 9, ferner folgende Schritte umfassend:
   Hervorrufen der physikalischen Reaktion von dem Produktrückstand durch
      Richten von elektromagnetischer Energie auf den Produktrückstand,
      Messen von Art und Menge von mit dem Produktrückstand in Wechselwirkung tretender elektromagnetischer Energie,
      Übertragen von die Art anzeigenden Signalen,
   Aufzeichnen der physikalischen Reaktion des Produktrückstands und
   Festlegen eines Korrelationsfaktorbereichs zwischen den physikalischen Reaktionen von Produktrückständen und den physikalischen Reaktionen von Rückständen verschmutzter Proben durch
   Bestimmen der bei jeder Identifizierungswellenlänge absorbierten Lichtmenge für einen Bereich von Produktkonzentrationen
   Entnehmen eines Probenrückstands von jedem Behälter, um die physikalische Reaktion des Probenrückstands hervorzurufen,
   worin die physikalische Reaktion des Probenrückstands als nicht mit der physikalischen Reaktion des Produktrückstands übereinstimmend bewertet wird, wenn mindestens ein auf die physikalische Reaktion des Probenrückstands bezogenes Signal nicht innerhalb des Korrelationsfaktorbereichs liegt.
11. Verfahren nach Anspruch 10, nach dem Schritt des Entnehmens des Probenrückstands ferner den folgenden Schritt umfassend:
   Herstellen der Beziehung zwischen dem Behälter, aus dem der Probenrückstand entnommen wurde, und dem entnommenen Probenrückstand.
12. Verfahren nach Anspruch 11, nach dem Schritt des Hervorrufens der physikalischen Reaktion von dem Produktrückstand ferner den folgenden Schritt umfassend:
   Umformen der physikalischen Reaktion in eine Mehrzahl von digitalen Vergleichssignalen.
13. Verfahren nach Anspruch 12, nach dem Schritt des Hervorrufens der physikalischen Reaktion von dem Probenrückstand ferner den folgenden Schritt umfassend:
   Umformen der physikalischen Reaktion in eine Mehrzahl von digitalen Probensignalen.
14. Verfahren nach Anspruch 13, worin als Korrelationsfaktorbereich der Bereich zwischen dem digitalen Vergleichssignal und dem digitalen Probensignal festgelegt wird und ein Zurückweisungssignal ausgegeben wird, wenn der Korrelationsfaktor außerhalb des Korrelationsfaktorbereichs liegt.
15. Verfahren nach einem der Ansprüche 10 bis 14, worin
   alle Verfahrensschritte für einen weiteren Parameter des Produkts wiederholt werden und
   das Produkt auch dann zurückgewiesen wird, wenn die physikalische Reaktion des Probenrückstands für den weiteren Parameter nicht mit der jeweiligen physikalischen Reaktion von dem Produktrückstand übereinstimmt.
16. Verfahren nach einem der Ansprüche 4 bis 15, worin
   der Meßschritt das Sammeln von Farbinformation über den Probenrückstand in mindestens einem gesonderten, vorbestimmten Identifizierungs-Wellenlängenbereich umfaßt und
   die gesonderten, vorbestimmten Identifizierungswellenlängenbereiche innerhalb des Bereichs von UV und sichtbarem Licht von 300 bis 700 nm liegen.
17. Verfahren nach Anspruch 16, worin die Farbinformation von der physikalischen Reaktion des Probenrückstands durch Verwendung von drei bis acht gesonderten, vorbestimmten Identifizierungswellenlängenbereichen hervorgerufen wird.
18. Verfahren nach einem der Ansprüche 1 bis 17, worin
   die Gaschromatographie eingesetzt wird, um Art und Menge der elektromagnetischen Energie zu messen, die mit dem Probenrückstand in Wechselwirkung tritt.
19. Verfahren nach einem der Ansprüche 1 bis 18, worin das Vorhandensein eines das Vorhandensein eines Produktrückstands anzeigenden Mikroorganismus benutzt wird, um anzuzeigen, daß der Behälter nicht verschmutzt worden ist.
20. Verfahren nach einem der Ansprüche 1 bis 19, worin ein Probenrückstand aus dem Behälter entnommen wird und die physikalische Reaktion von dem Probenrückstand hervorgerufen wird.
EP87905387A 1986-08-04 1987-08-03 Verfahren zur unterscheidung zwischen verschmutzten und nicht-verschmutzten behältern Expired - Lifetime EP0318501B1 (de)

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US06/892,983 US4858768A (en) 1986-08-04 1986-08-04 Method for discrimination between contaminated and uncontaminated containers
US892983 1986-08-04
US07/076,735 US4830192A (en) 1986-08-04 1987-07-23 Methods of discriminating between contaminated and uncontaminated containers

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EP0318501A1 (de) 1989-06-07
AU7807287A (en) 1988-02-24
AU603133B2 (en) 1990-11-08
DK174088A (da) 1988-03-29
FI884140A (fi) 1988-09-08
DK174088D0 (da) 1988-03-29
FI884140A0 (fi) 1988-09-08
FI92560C (fi) 1994-12-12
CA1305543C (en) 1992-07-21
FI92560B (fi) 1994-08-31
KR900008954B1 (ko) 1990-12-15
BR8707767A (pt) 1989-08-15
CN87106303A (zh) 1988-03-30
US4830192A (en) 1989-05-16
PT85481B (pt) 1993-07-30
DE318501T1 (de) 1989-10-05
IE872093L (en) 1988-02-04
GR871246B (en) 1987-12-08
WO1988000862A1 (en) 1988-02-11
DK167659B1 (da) 1993-12-06
ATE71314T1 (de) 1992-01-15
CN1014456B (zh) 1991-10-23
DE3775933D1 (de) 1992-02-20
MX167370B (es) 1993-03-19
NO881396L (no) 1988-06-03
ES2004966A6 (es) 1989-02-16
PT85481A (pt) 1988-08-17
KR880701878A (ko) 1988-11-05
NO881396D0 (no) 1988-03-29
IE60250B1 (en) 1994-06-29

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